Tipperary GAA Scene
PRO Joe Bracken
MUNSTER MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Following their three rounds in Phase 1 of the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Football Championship, Tipperary are through to the Phase 1 final where they will again play Clare to decide which county will go forward to contest Phase 2 with Cork and Kerry.
In last Wednesday evening’s round 3 encounter against Limerick in Sean Treacy Park, it finished all square, 0-10 apiece, with Tipp securing safe passage on the strength of defeating Waterford in their first game.
Thanks to the great Tipperary support on the night as the Tipp faithful answered the call and came out in force behind the team.
Looking forward, we send best wishes to the team and management as we call on supporters once again to get behind our minor footballers next Tuesday, May 7th as Tipperary and Clare meet in the Phase 1 final for the Darrel Darcy Cup. This game will go ahead in LIT Gaelic Grounds at 7pm and the referee will be Sean Joy (Kerry).
MUNSTER SENIOR HURLING & FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The wait is almost over as May 11th and 12th loom large in the mindset of all Tipperary supporters when our senior hurlers and footballers get their Munster championship campaigns under way.
On Sunday week, May 12th, the Tipperary hurlers will travel to Páirc Uí Chaoimh to take on Cork in the first of their four Munster championship league round fixtures. The time for discussion among supporters will come to a halt when the whistle sounds at 4pm when the battle will commence. With adrenaline flowing and pulsing the veins a huge Tipperary support in the stands will be vital as the team go in search of an opening win in what will no doubt be a furnace of heat and intensity on the field of play.
Before that on Saturday evening, May 11th in Semple Stadium the Tipperary senior footballers will get their campaign under way when they take on Limerick at 7pm in the Munster Championship quarter-final. It was May 31st, 2014 when the sides last met at this early stage and Tipp will certainly be looking to get their championship season off to a flying start with the winners going on to play Cork in the Munster semi-final on June 1st in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
MUNSTER MINOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
May 12th is also the appointed date for the Tipperary minor hurlers, when they, like their senior counterparts, take on Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in the Electric Ireland Munster Minor Hurling Championship where throw in is at 2pm.
Paul Collins (Drom & Inch) has stepped up to the managerial role following the appointment of Tommy Dunne to the senior management and with Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch) in as coach/selector along with Ger Ryan - Coach/Selector (Cappawhite) and Tony Shelly - Selector (Killenaule, the Tipp minors will be looking to get the day off to a positive start for the county on Sunday week.
TOM O'HARA TOURNAMENT
The Tipperary U20 hurlers will take on the Kilkenny U20's in the annual Tom O'Hara tournament in Gortnahoe GAA grounds on Bank Holiday Monday, May 6th next at 7pm and admission is €5.
CLUB FIXTURES
Action continues this weekend in the Tipperary Water County Hurling Leagues with another extensive round of fixtures down for decision.
For results of all games and forthcoming fixtures please check https://tipperary.gaa.ie/fixtures-results/
TIPPERARY GAA CLUB DRAW
The first draw in the 2019/20 Tipperary GAA Clubs will take place on Friday week May 10th in Finn's Bar, Borrisoleigh. First prize in the new draw will be either a Skoda Karoq or Renault Kadjar or €25k. Second prize will be a Renault Clio or Skoda Fabia or €15k and third prize will be €3,000.
For anyone new wishing to join please contact your local club or the Lar na Páirce office 0504 22702 for more details before Friday week.
POST PRIMARY
There are two county post primary finals down for decision this week. First up on Tuesday April 30th is the U/17 (C) Hurling Final where Presentation Ballingarry take on St. Joseph’s Borrisoleigh.
Then on Wednesday, May 1st, in Clonmel Sportsfield, in the U15 (B) Football (Cusack Shield) Final, Colaiste Dun Iascaigh and Carrick on Suir CBS will meet at 1.30pm.
Best wishes to the four schools in both finals.
Elsewhere, the Rice Cup semi-finals go ahead this week. On May 1st, Nenagh CBS play Kilkenny CBS in Littleton at 1:10pm with referee Fergal Horgan (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams) in charge. Then on Friday May 3rd, in Ballygiblon at 1pm Thurles CBS play Midleton CBS. Best wishes to Nenagh and Thurles in those semi-finals.
CELTIC CHALLENGE
The Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge is an U17 hurling competition comprising teams from all thirty-two counties. In 2019 Tipperary will once again enter two teams with both teams commencing competitive action this Wednesday May 1st.
In Nenagh, 'Tipperary Blue' consisting of players from the north and mid divisions will play Galway McDonagh while in St. Molleran's, Carrick on Suir, 'Tipperary Gold' consisting of players from the south and west divisions will play Waterford. Throw in for both games is 7.30pm.
Best wishes to both Tipperary panels in this year’s Celtic Challenge.
HANDBALL
It was a big weekend for Tipperary Handball with the county contesting four All-Ireland Finals, winning two and narrowly losing the other two. The weekend kicked off in Nenagh on Friday night with the Silver Masters B Doubles where Joseph and Finbar Ryan from the Silvermines were up against Graham Casburn and Morgan Duggan from Galway. This turned out to be an epic battle which the Tipp boys were very unlucky to lose.
The other three finals were in Kingscourt in Cavan. In the men’s Junior B Doubles, Aiden O’Flaherty (Youghalarra) and Liam Bradshaw (Newport) pictured right, beat Gordan Nolan and Michael Egan from Roscommon.
In the Silver Masters B Doubles, Brian O’Brien and John Kennedy (Silvermines) pictured left, took the honours against the Ulster Champions Jim Cunningham and Tony O'Connor from Down.
In the Ladies Junior B Doubles Eleanor Percy and Síle Spain (Lahorna) were also up against the Ulster Champions from Tyrone Michelle Warren and Michaela McCartan. The Tipp ladies got a great start but unfortunately lost out 2 games to one. Well done to all the players who won gold and silver and we now look forward to our next competition which is Hardball.
FRIENDS OF TIPPERARY FOOTBALL GOLF CLASSIC
The Friends of Tipperary held another very successful Golf Classic in Thurles Golf Club last weekend with 110 teams taking part. The top three results were as follows;
First place: 107 points, Jim Gleeson, Ailbe Egan, Noel Morris and Liam McGrath
Second place: 100 points, Tony Tierney, Martin Scully, Willie Hamill and Jim O’Sullivan
Third place: 99 points, Shane O’Mahoney, Mike Hally, Mike Condon and John Darmody
The Ladies Team Prize went to, Karen Coen, Andrew Fewer, Laura Ryan and Marie Slattery
The Longest drive went to Ian Croke and nearest the pin was Mary Fitzpatrick.
The Friends committee express special thanks to all of their sponsors, players, organisers, those who purchased tee boxes and sponsored prizes and of course all the staff in Thurles Golf Club.
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB GOLF CLASSIC
The Tipperary Supporters Club Annual Golf Classic will take place in Nenagh Golf Club on Friday 17th May and ask for your support for this Annual Golf Classic. The Supporters Club are very appreciative of the generosity over the years and hope you will be in a position to enter a team this year. This is one of their major fund raising events as they continue to support our senior hurling management team in their quest to win Munster and All-Ireland titles. All funds will be used to defray costs for looking after the team preparation for this year’s championship.
Please email team entry to johntierney105@gmail.com or post to John Tierney at 105 Laraghcon, Lucan Village, Co. Dublin. Note: to be eligible for the main prizes, all team members must have GUI handicaps.
For all details please see https://www.tippsupportersclub.com/tipp-supporters-club-golf-classic-nenagh-17-may-2019/
ANDY C. HARTY COMMERATION
Toomevara GAA Club are holding a commemoration celebrating the life and contribution made to the GAA by Andy C. Harty which will take place this Friday, May 3rd, at 7:30pm in Ballymackey Graveyard and at 8:30pm in Bishop Harty National School, Ballinree. The club and wider community of the parish are extremely proud of the remarkable contribution that Andy Harty made to the GAA and feel it is only fitting that his many achievements are recorded and commemorated in his native Ballymackey. All are welcome to attend.
HEALTH & WELLBEING
Best of luck to clubs and members who are involved in the National Community Event this coming May Bank Holiday Weekend. This is the first time the event has been organised and the aim of the weekend is to encourage communities to organise events to help deepen community spirit and enable neighbours to come together in a social environment.
For those who are fascinated by the sounds of early morning birdsong, Mooney Goes Wild Dawn Chorus takes place Sunday May 5th. If you are not able to get outside on the day you may listen in live to RTE Radio 1 commencing at midnight and finishing at 7am.
It is still not too late to register for Darkness into Light which takes place on May 11th in aid of Pieta House. The county committee are encouraging as many clubs as possible to support this event.
As Monday, April 29th, is Lyme Awareness Day, anyone engaging in outdoor pursuits particularly during the spring and summer months should protect themselves against tick bites which can lead to Lyme disease. For all relevant information check out Lyme disease on the HSE website https://www.hse.ie
TIPPERARY SUPPORTERS CLUB
Tipperary Supporters Club wish to remind all that the hurling championship season is fast approaching, when Tipperary will play Cork in their opening Munster Championship clash in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday May 12th at 4.00pm.
As is usual, the Tipp Supporters Club will be conducting a draw among all paid up members for this year (2019), for 5 sets of stand tickets for this game and all subsequent championship games for as long as Tipperary remain in the championship.
To ensure that all paid up members are included in the first draw please have your relevant member details submitted at the latest this Friday May 3rd by post to, Tipp Supporters Club, 13 Castleknock Close, Castleknock, Dublin 15. Or by email: to jreidy2966@eircom.net and phone 086 3580718.
The membership pack also includes the following benefits:
A specially-designed Tipperary Supporters Club pen with stylus for use on touch-screen devices
2019 Car Sticker
Text alerts for all Championship team news
Regular news to your email about all the latest in Tipperary GAA circles
FRIENDS OF TIPPERARY FOOTBALL
Membership for the Friends of Tipperary Football for 2019 is now available and costs only €20. There are some great prizes to be won throughout the year by becoming a member. The Friends are a fantastic group that help with the development of Tipperary Football. To join please go to www.friendsoftipperaryfootball.com